In the case of
Bastille Day, correlation should be made between that day and our
own Independence Day, comparing the French and American
Revolutions and indicating the similar circumstances in the two
movements. Lafayette's part in our War of the Revolution and
America's payment of our debt to France in the Great War form
another means of making familiar to the children the story of our
historic friendship with France.
While _The French Twins_ is a war story, soldiers and trenches
and battle-fields are nevertheless not the main features; on the
contrary, _The French Twins_ depicts the necessary part played by
women, children, and old people during the War, and shows how the
spirit and aims of the soldiers' families have been the same as
those of the soldiers themselves. Self-control, endurance, and
cheerfulness at home are proved to be as much a part of true
bravery as fearlessness in battle. Since the soldier's part in
the War has been held closely to everyone's attention, the
reading of this story will supply a balancing view of the other
side of war; and the pupils' perspective of the whole cannot fail
to gain in scope.
Books which may be commended to the teacher, for descriptions of
various aspects of the Great War, are: Hay's _The First Hundred
Thousand_; Nicolas's _Campaign Diary of a French Officer_;
Aldrich's _A Hilltop on the Marne_; Hall's _High Adventure_ and
_Kitcheners Mob_; Buswell's _Ambulance No. 10_; Haigh's _Life in
a Tank_; Stevenson's _From "Poilu" to "Yank"_; two anonymous
books, _The Retreat from Mons_ and _Friends of France_; Paine's
_The Fighting Fleets_; and Root and Crocker's _Over Periscope
Pond_.
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